Adjustable head piece

ABSTRACT

A head-piece formed of paper or like material cut, scored and folded to provide a flexible crown piece secured to a head encircling band having relatively shiftable telescopically related portions which are permanently sealed together in headsize adjusted relation by a pressure sensitive adhesive which is normally covered by a protective backing strip to preclude sealing action of the adhesive until after the head band has been adjusted to size and the strip is removed from the adhesive.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,728,740

Wa enfeld 1 1 A r. 24, 1973 [5 ADJUSTABLE HEAD PIECE 2,685,090 8/1954 Wagenfeld ..2/197 3,082,430 3/1963 Wagenfeld.... [75] Inventor. Gllbert B. Wagenfeld, Bala Cynwyd, 3.416,]57 12/1968 Marderet al N 3,027,564 4/1962 Wagenfeld .2119? x [73] Assignee: Cellucap Manufacturing Co.,

Philadelphia v Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmamch Alt0rney-Edels0n & Udell [22] Filed: Jan. 18,1971

21 Appl. N0.2 107,150 [571 ABSTRACT A head-piece formed of paper or like material cut, [52] Cl I I I t t 2/197 scored and folded to provide a flexible crown piece [51] Int Cl 102 secured to a head encircling band having relatively [58] Field 197 198 shiftable telescopically related portions which are per 2/2200 1 manently sealed together in head-size adjusted relation by a pressure sensitive adhesive which is normally covered by a protective backing strip to preclude seal- [56] References Clted ing action of the adhesive until after the head band UNITED STATES PATENTS has been adjusted to size and the strip is removed from the adhesive. 2,856,608 lO/l958 Wagenfeld ..2/l97 3,348,239 10/1967 Lamour ..2/171.3 1 Claim, 22 Drawing Figures '7 -.'-"'J n 's in :ZZE'L o.

35 r L I- Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,740

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/IVE/Vfflfi GILBERT B. WAGENFELD By M QAA K A 7' TOP/1A5 71:

Patented April 24, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 will!!! 1hr IV! lllflll/f/I/ll III I! I! I M/VzF/WOK GILBERT B, WAGENFELD Mau (($22,

f llll (0.71. 14! vii Il'l hf llilili II Array/[r ADJUSTABLE HEAD PIECE This invention relates generally to headwear and is more particularly concerned with certain improvements in disposable caps which are worn, for example, by those engaged in the dispensing of foods and beverages and which are of the general construction shown and described in my prior United States Letters Pat. Nos. 2,856,608; 3,027,564 and 3,082,430.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is to provide the cap with improved means for adjusting the head size thereof within predetermined limits and for permanently sealing together the relatively shiftable parts of the cap when they have been adjusted to the desired head band size.

More specifically, it is an important object of the present invention to provide in a cap of the character above described simple and effective means for adjusting to size the head band portion of the cap and by which the size adjustment may be readily and instantly performed by the wearer of the cap without in any way destroying the integrity of the cap.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cap having built-in size adjusting means which is simple, ef-v fective and inexpensive to incorporate therein and which do not include interfitting or coacting parts which, in their interengagement by the wearer of the cap, might tend to tear the cap or otherwise damage the same.

Other objects of the invention, such as relate to economies of manufacture resulting from the design and construction of the cap and the facility with which it may be adjusted to the precise head size desired, will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, as shown in the accompanying drawings, as described in detail in the following specification and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of preferred constructions of the cap of the present invention:

FIG. I is a plan view of an unfolded blank of sheet material as prepared for production of a preferred construction of the cap of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the blank as taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1 folded along its longitudinally extending fold lines;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the folded blank of FIG. 1 as further folded along its transversely extending fold lines;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the blank of FIG. I fully folded into its final cap form;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, the head band of the cap as.

shown in this figure being still freely adjustable to head size;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view also as taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 but showing the head band ofthe cap permanently fixed to its adjusted head size.

FIG. 8 is an elevational inside view of the cap head band as viewed from the line 8 -8 of FIG. 7 showing the covered adhesive tab folded back to facilitate exposure of the adhesive area preliminarily to pressing the same into contact with the facing portion of the cap head band to adhesively fix the same to its desired head size;

FIG. 9 to 14 inclusive are perspective views of the inside of the telescoped adjustable portions of the head band similar to FIG. 8 illustrating in sequence the several steps involved for permanently setting the adjustable head band of the cap to its desired head size.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of an unfolded blank of sheet material showing a modification of that shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the modification as taken along the line l616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective of the modified blank shown folded along its longitudinally extending fold lines;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the modified blank still further folded about its transversely extending fold lines;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the modified construction of cap as folded into its final form;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the modified construction of cap as folded into its final form;

FIG. 20 and 21 are enlarged sectional views each taken along the line 2020 of FIG. 19 with FIG. 20 showing the cap not fixed to head size and FIG. 21 showing it adhesively fixed to head size; and

FIG. 22 is an elevational inside view of the cap as viewed from the line 22-22 of FIG. 21 showing the cap fixed as for XL or extra-large head band size.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be observed that the cap embodying my present invention is basically of thesame construction as that of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,856,608, being formed of a flat blank 10 of pliable sheet material, such as paper. Preferably but not necessarily, the blank is formed of two pieces 11 and 12 of sheet material arranged with their proximate edge portions overlapped and adhesively secured together, as at 12", the upper piece 11 being preferably of lighter weight material, such as tissue or crinoline, than the lower piece 12 of stiffer stock. The lighter weight piece 11 serves as the crown portion of the cap, while the stiffer, heavier weight lower piece 12 forms the head band portion thereof.

The composite rectangular blank 10 is provided with parallel, longitudinally extending edges 13 and 14 and with opposite transversely extending edges 15 and 16.

The square upper opposite end corners which would normally be formed by the edges 13, I4, 15 and 16 are cut off as shown along lines 17-18 and 17-18. The blank so formed is provided with longitudinally extending parallel fold lines 19, 20 and 21 and with transversely extending parallel fold lines 22 and 23. The flap portion extending above the upper fold line 21 is provided on one surface thereof with an adhesive coating 24 so that when said flap portion is folded in, as shown in FIG. 3, the adhesive coating 24 is exposed along the full length of the flap.

Preferably, the blank 10 while in its flat condition as shown in FIG. 1 may have adhesively applied thereto a sweat band 25 as described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,564, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference to said patent.

- In order to produce the cap of the present invention from the blank 10, the latter is folded upon itself along the longitudinally extending score or fold line 19,

folded again upon itself in the same direction along the parallel fold line 20 and then folded once more upon itself in the opposite direction along the upper parallel fold line 21. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, when the blank is folded as just described, the fold line 19 is at an elevation substantially the same as that of a line which extends longitudinally between the points where the edges and 16 respectively meet the edges 17 and 17. In addition, the adhesive coated surface of the marginal portion proximate the edge 13 is exposed upon that surface of the folded blank which constitutes the inner face of the completed cap, and, at opposite ends of the blank 10, the cuts 18 and 18 respectively extend in registry with the cuts 17 and 17".

The opposite end portions of the blank 10 may now be folded flatwise against the inside face of the central portion of the blank respectively along the transversely extending score or fold lines 22 and 23 which are disposed so that in this folded condition (see FIG. 5) the opposite foldable terminal portions of the blank 10 are ofunequal lengths with a combined length exceeding that of the blank central portion extending between the lines 22 and 23, and thus overlap one another. These overlapping end portions of the blank are thus adapted to be interfitted so that the longer one thereof telescopically embraces the shorter one (as see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). However, prior to telescopically engaging these end portions of the folded blank, and while the same are disposed in overlapping relation, the infolded adhesively coated upper edges thereof are adhesively secured in overlapping relation to the adhesively coated upper edge of the central portion of the blank to thereby form the closed crown ridge of the cap.

Where the crown portion of the cap is formed of crinoline, instead of providing the infolded adhesively coated flap 24 along the top edge of the blank, the top edges of the overlapping portions of the crinoline crown piece may be stitched together to close off and form the crown ridge ofthe cap.

It will be understood that the cap may be produced by assembly and folding procedures which may differ somewhat from that hereinbefore described. Thus, the head band blank 12, which when folded as described along the fold lines 19 and 20 constitutes in effect a substantially hollow tube of flattened form, may be so formed prior to its securement to the crown part blank 11, as described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3082430.

There is thus formed as shown an article of headwear which simulates an overseas cap and which comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, a crown part 26 and a head band 27. The crown part includes a pair of side panels, one ofwhich is continuous between the end folds 22 and 23 and the other of which is split to provide a first section 28 and a second section 29. The head band 27 likewise includes a pair of oppositely disposed side portions, one of which is also split to provide a pair of overlapping sections and 31 which are adapted to be telescopically interfitted as above described and as shown in the drawings. The cap is placed upon the head in conventional manner, and when fitted thereon adjusts itself to the shape and size of the head by reason of the fact that the pair of side panel sections of the crown piece and the corresponding pair of side portions of the head band are adapted for relative movement.

It is to be noted particularly that the cuts 17 and 17 converge as they approach the ridge of the cap (see FIG. 5), as a consequence of which, when the head band 27 is expanded, the overlapped portions of the crown sections 28 and 29 swing relatively to one another about the point of convergence as a pivot center. This action tends to reduce the tendency for the crown sections 28 and 29 to warp due to relative movement of the telescoped portions of the head band 27, as a consequence of which the appearance of the cap is improved.

It is, of course, desirable to adjust the cap to a preselected head band size and to this end the present invention provides a built-in head size fixing arrangement now to be described. Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be observed that the outer surface of the blank (which is the reverse of that which constitutes the inside face of the completed cap) is provided with a zone 32 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, this adhesive being located adjacent the free end of the foldable section 31 of the head band 27 substantially midway between the top and bottom edges thereof and just above the top edge of the sweat band 25 when and if the cap is provided with such sweat band. The opposite foldable section 30 of the head band is in turn provided with a printed scale 33 of head band sizes, such as small (S),

medium (M), large (L) and extra-large (XL), which scale is imprinted on said head band section 30 adjacent the free end thereof in longitudinal alinement with the adhesive 32 but upon the surface of the blank opposite that containing the adhesive, namely, upon the surface which constitutes the inside face of the head band. Thus, it will be noted that adhesive 32 and the size indicating scale 33 are respectfully applied to opposite surfaces of the innermost panel of the folded head-band.

Preferably, the pressure-sensitive adhesive 32 is applied to that one of the head band end sections (as shown, the section 31) which telescopically embraces the opposite head band section 30 so that when these sections are telescopically joined together to form the adjustable side of the cap, the exposed surface of the adhesive is in overlying relation to and may be pressed into contact with the scale-imprinted surface of the head band to thereby adhesively secure together the telescoped sections ofthe head band after the same have been relatively shifted into position for providing the head band size required.

In order to prevent unintentional and premature adhesive securement of the telescoped sections of the head band, as when the caps are initially assembled in flat form for shipment and storage or during the process of shifting the telescoped sections of the head 7 band relatively to one another for head size adjustment of the cap, the adhesive 32 is protectively covered with a removable backing strip 34. As is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 9 to 14, the inner panel of the folded-over head band section 31 to which the adhesive is applied is itself longitudinally slit along opposite sides of the adhesive zone, as along the parallel lines 35-35, to provide a tab 36 which may be lifted out of the plane of said inner panel and folded back to facilitate removal of the backing strip for exposure of the adhesive.

FIGS. 9 to 14 illustrate the procedure for adjusting the cap to any desired head band size as indicated by the imprinted scale of head band sizes ranging from small (S) to extra-large (XL). In FIG. 9, the cap is shown expanded to expose to view the inside of the adjustable split side wall of the cap in which condition of the cap the adhesive on the inner surface of the tab 36 is protectively covered by the removable backing strip 34 (not seen in FIG. 9).

In FIG. 10, the tab 36 is shown partially lifted away from the surface to which it is to be eventually adhesively secured, while FIG. 11 illustrates the tab folded back into position for facilitating removal of the adhesive backing strip 34.

FIG. 12 shows the backing strip 34 being removed, while FIG. 13 shows it fully removed to completely expose the pressure sensitive adhesive 32. In this condition of the cap, the relatively movable telescoped panel sections of the cap may be moved toward or away from one another to register the adhesive 32 with a selected area of the imprinted size scale and thereby decrease or increase the head band size as desired. When the cap is so adjusted to size, the tab 36 is swung forward to its original position shown in FIG. 9 and pressed firmly down as in FIG. 14, to permanently seal together the relatively shiftable sections of the cap to provide it with the size required by the wearer.

The pressure sensitive adhesive 32 may be applied to the cap blank during the fabrication thereof in any desired manner, as by the use of adhesive transfer tape which provides for transfer of the adhesive to the blank by way of a protective tape which may be removed from the adhesive adhering to the blank when it is desired to expose the adhesive transferred to the blank or by the use of double-coated pressure sensitive tape having one of its surfaces coated with adhesive for securement of the tape to the blank and its opposite surface also coated with adhesive but protectively covered with a removable backing for exposure as desired of the protectively covered adhesive. Such tapes are presently commercially available as manufactured products of Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, The Borden Company and other manufacturers. Of course, still other methods may be employed for applying the pressure sensitive adhesive to the blank and protecting it against premature contact with an adjoining surface of the cap blank by a readily removable protective backing.

FIGS. 15 to 22 inclusive illustrate a modified form of the present invention. In this modification, the protectively backed pressure-sensitive adhesive 37 is applied to the outer surface of the lower flap 38 of the blank, which flap is adapted to be infolded as shown along the fold line 19. The blank of FIG. 15 is otherwise the same as that'of FIG. 1 and when it is folded into its condition as shown in FIG. 18, the adhesive faces inwardly of the folded-over flap 38 of the head band section 30 in overlying relation to that innermost flap portion of the head band section 31 which telescopically embraces the section 30". Of course, as in the construction hereinbefore described, the adhesive 37 is protectively covered by a removable backing strip 40 which, upon removal, exposes the adhesive for adhering contact with the proximate surface of the embracing head-band section 30.

It will be apparent that when the relatively shiftable sections 30 and 31 are telescopically related, as in the previously described construction, the exposed adhesive'37 provided on either one of the head-band sections 303l will contact the other of said sections to lock the same together to the head size described for the head-band. To facilitate adjustment of the headband to the desired size, a scale 33 of sizes is imprinted upon the blank as in the previously described construction. To adjust and seal the cap to its desired size, the head-band section 31 which embraces the opposite head band section 30 is shifted to present its free end in registry with a selected one of the size indicating lines of the scale 33 whereupon the protective strip 40 is removed from the adhesive carried by one of the head band sections so that the adhesive may then be pressed into contact with the other of said head band sections to permanently seal the two sections together.

Preferably, as shown, the adhesive 37 is initially applied to the exposed surface of the flap 38 forming the outer top portion of the shorter shiftable side section 30 of the head band in consequence of which the adhesive is sandwiched between the telescoped corresponding top portions of the interfitted head band sections 30 and 31. However, the adhesive need not be confined to the top flap portion of a telescoped section of the head-band as shown but may instead be otherwise located in said one shiftable section of the head band, as, for example, upon the inside face of the outermost panel of the section 31 of the head band, as in the dotted location 41 shown in FIGS. 15 and 18 for adhesive securement together of the telescopically related sections of the head band once the same are adjusted to the desired head size. It will be appreciated further that the size adjusting and locking means of the present invention is applicable to various constructions of headwear wherein a head band is provided having relatively adjustable telescoped portions, such as the chefs hat construction shown and described in my aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,082,430.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various other changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a cap formed of sheet material cut, secured and folded to provide a flexible crown part and head band therefor of substantially uniform depth having opposite side walls extending from the front to the rear ends of the cap, each of said side walls being respectively provided along its longitudinally extending top and bottom edges with overlapping downwardly and upwardly presenting inturned flaps, one of said side walls being continuous in length between said ends of the cap to provide a pair of wall sections of unequal length respectively having end portions telescopically interengaged for movement relatively to one another whereby to adjust the head band to a selected size, said crown part being peripherally secured to the upper edge portion of the upturned bottom flap of said head band, the upturned bottom flap of a first one of said overlapping end portions of the head band in the region thereof below said crown part having a pair of parallel slits of substantially equal limited length extending longitudinally inward from its free extremity to provide an end tab which is foldable back against said upturned bottom flap of said first end portion of the head band without any corresponding turning or folding back of any portion of the crown part of the cap, the inner face of said tab being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is inherently capable under pressure of said adhesive against the upturned bottom flap of said second one of said overlapping end portions to permanently seal said overlapping end portions of the head band together, said tab serving as a means for indexing 'the head band to any one of several head band sizes marked on the upturned bottom flap of second one of said overlapping end portions of the head band, and a removable backing strip disposed in covering relation to said adhesive for precluding the adherent capability of said adhesive to seal together said telescoped end portions of the head band while the same is being adjusted to size, said adhesive covering strip being removable from said tab when the same is folded back to expose said adhesive and render it effective to seal said telescoped end portions of the head band together after the same have been relatively shifted within the limits of their overlap to provide a selected size for the head band. 

1. In a cap formed of sheet material cut, secured and folded to provide a flexible crown part and head band therefor of substantially uniform depth having opposite side walls extending from the front to the rear ends of the cap, each of said side walls being respectively provided along its longitudinally extending top and bottom edges with overlapping downwardly and upwardly presenting inturned flaps, one of said side walls being continuous in length between said ends of the cap to provide a pair of wall sections of unequal length respectively having end portions telescopically interengaged for movement relatively to one another whereby to adjust the head band to a selected size, said crown part being peripherally secured to the upper edge portion of the upturned bottom flap of said head band, the upturned bottom flap of a first one of said overlapping end portions of the head band in the region thereof below said crown part having a pair of parallel slits of substantially equal limited length extending longitudinally inward from its free extremity to provide an end tab which is foldable back against said upturned bottom flap of said first end portion of the head band without any corresponding turning or folding back of any portion of the crown part of the cap, the inner face of said tab being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is inherently capable under pressure of said adhesive against the upturned bottom flap of said second one of said overlapping end portions to permanently seal said overlapping end portions of the head band together, said tab serving as a means for indexing the head band to any one of several head band sizes marked on the upturned bottom flap of second one of said overlapping end portions of the head band, and a removable backing strip disposed in covering relation to said adhesive for precluding the adherent capability of said adhesive to seal together said telescoped end portions of the head band while the same is being adjusted to size, said adhesive covering strip being removable from said tab when the same is folded back to expose said adhesive and render it effective to seal said telescoped end portions of the head band together after the same have been relatively shifted within the limits of their overlap to provide a selected size for the head band. 